Have you taken part in this year’s National Garden Butterfly Census? A great activity to get children involved with. The survey is aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment, it is really important to take some time out to think what plants you want to have in the garden next year, which will attract these insects!

We have chosen 5 top butterfly and top 5 bee plants especially for you – which of course are available from us.

Top 5 Butterfly Plants

This beautiful butterfly bush ‘Flower Power’ has a fantastic colour combination. It is a strong bush that requires little care. The flowers smell delightful and it is not just the butterflies that love it – to be greeted with that lovely smell when you walk into the garden is very welcoming!

The name says it all: this shrub has no thorns and produces giant fruits. Freshly picked these fruits taste delicious in the summer and are also suitable for making jam and juice. Very healthy, high in vitamin C.

Golden root is a real eye-catching, hardy succulent. Flowers in the middle of the summer with lovely yellow fragrant flowers and is therefore attractive to butterflies and bees. It is also used as a medicinal herb.

In addition to the golden root we have the yellow stonecrop which is also perfectly suitable for the rock garden. In water-permeable soil this succulent is very hardy, and will provide a nice yellow ‘carpet’ in the garden.

Top 5 Bee Plants

This speedwell ‘Pink Eveline’ is very striking with several different faces. Starting with pinkish-white flowers that open up to reveal bluish-purple stamens. Ideal for the border, but also suitable in a pot or even as a cut flower in the vase.

Thyme is a low, creeping plant forming evergreen cushions that are smothered in flowers in summer. The small leaves contain a rich, fragrant essential oil. The leaves can also be used as a culinary herb perfect for meat, stews and Mediterranean cuisine.

Lungwort is a perfect ground cover and best known for its foliage which stays green for much of the year. The bi-coloured flowers are in beautiful colours. Attractive to honey bees, repellent for snails!